Can you cast weapon enhancement spells on a Spiritual Weapon?


Rules Questions


There's a handful of buff spells (Sun Metal, Magic Weapon, Weapon of Awe, etc) which all are [Target: Weapon touched]. Obviously these work when cast on a mundane melee weapon, but what about a Spiritual Weapon?

This spell has [Effect: Magic weapon of force]. The question is, does this qualify for the [Target: Weapon touched] of the earlier spells?

Shadow Lodge

Maybe. The weapon is there, so the spells can be cast on them, but the weapon "strikes as a spell, not as a weapon" so the effects may not work if they are dependent on a weapon hitting or dealing damage. For instance, a spiritual weapon doesn't get bonus damage from Inspire Courage.


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Generally speaking, "weapon-like spell effects" (see flame blade and light lance, as well as spiritual weapon) are not considered objects and are not valid targets for spells or effects that enhance objects. Spells such as icicle dagger and shadow weapon that create real or quasi-real objects, however, would be valid targets.

Shadow Lodge

Not true. It "strikes as a spell, not as a weapon" is simply saying that it ignores DR unlike a weapon, but is subject to SR.

However, if you read the rest of the spell, particularly the very first line "A weapon made of force appears and attacks foes at a distance", "The weapon takes the shape of a weapon favored by your deity or a weapon with some spiritual significance or symbolism to you", "The weapon always strikes from your direction", "Your feats or combat actions do not affect the weapon. If the weapon goes beyond the spell range", and "Even if the spiritual weapon is a ranged weapon, use the spell's range, not the weapon's normal range increment,", its pretty clear that it is actually a weapon, (and a spell).

Also, "A spiritual weapon's AC against touch attacks is 12 (10 + size bonus for Tiny object)."

So anything that enhances the caster's attack/damage, or anything that can target an object, target, or weapon can affect spells like Spiritual Weapon.


Hard to say. There is evidence that it is both. However, I'd rule that it wouldn't, and here's why:

If it were to act as any other weapon, it would be subject to the general rules of weapons, such as being affected by DR, able to break, disarmable, etc.

Spiritual Weapon, although is called out as a "magic weapon of force" hardly behaves the same as the standard weapon that most of these buff spells seem to call out for. I believe it shouldn't be treated the same, since by the effects it's being played as, it's a Force Effect before it is a weapon, so not only does this supersede it being a weapon, but it explains its mechanics better than saying it behaves more as an actual weapon.

Because of this, it's safe to say that although the buffs call out for weapons to touch, and assuming it is a weapon before a Force Effect, there is this line that draws toward another important question to ask:

Spiritual Weapon wrote:
A spiritual weapon cannot be attacked or harmed by physical attacks, but dispel magic, disintegrate, a sphere of annihilation, or a rod of cancellation affects it. A spiritual weapon's AC against touch attacks is 12 (10 + size bonus for Tiny object).

By RAW, it says that it cannot be harmed or attacked by physical attacks, but should that means its immune to physical effects as well (such as being affected by a Touch Spell)?

And if it can't, we can easily say that although it is a weapon, it cannot be the target of a touch attack (or touch spell, since they fundamentally function in the same manner). So try as the PC might to enhance their Spiritual Weapon, they just physically can't affect it except by what it says it can be affected by. (Plus SR, of course.)

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